Joe Larson, who represented the landowners, said the setbacks should be 2,650 feet from a residence and 1,500 feet from a property line, “similar to a hog confinement.” ...The supervisors said the concerns were valid, but they were not ready to take action.

A proposed wind farm in Palo Alto County was a main concern during the Palo Alto County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, November 17. Several local area farmers as well as representatives from Steier Ag Aviation were on hand to discuss concerns over how a wind farm could potentially affect area farmers.

Officials estimate the equipment should generate $12,000-$14,000 annually, but has earned far less due to mechanical breakdowns. Instead, it's generated about $4,050 in total profits over the past five years, Crozier said.

“The windmills were a generous gift that served us well for a decade,” said Superintendent Steve Gray. “The first 10 years, they made us money; the last 10 years we’ve gotten as much out of them as we’ve put in; if we keep them 10 more years, they will turn into a money pit and run us a deficit.”

MidAmerican vice president Dave Caris said executives recently met with Branstad to criticize the board's decision to require that MidAmerican pay $2 million annually to electric customers as part of a project to add 67 turbines in Adams and O'Brien counties. He said the company told Branstad that the decision wasn't "a balanced outcome," unlike eight prior wind projects approved by the board.

Alliant Energy, which serves the college, said it likely would have to curtail much of the project’s energy production because another wind developer had applied for an interconnection agreement first. The combined production, according to Alliant, likely would overload the local distribution circuit.

Continued growth of wind energy in Iowa places it ahead of other states in meeting a proposed rule that would require existing power plants to cut carbon emissions, a leader with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says.

When Al Brueggeman agreed to allow two wind turbines on his high ground, it was with the promise of tax relief from a $207 million wind farm that now juts from the landscape in far northwest Iowa. But six years after 60 turbines began whirring, the farmer learned Osceola County leaders have been discretely plotting to use that money elsewhere for the next 20 years.

The Plan & Zoning Commission voted unanimously Thursday, with the exception of two absent members, against a recommendation to the Board of Adjustment of approval for a special use permit for placing two 445 ft. wind turbines in city limits. ...Stephen Troskey, city planner, said he was worried about potential buyers in that area. "I think there is a well documented decrease in value for those areas around," Troskey said. "I think that's too big of a risk to take with this area of town and such a large structure."

"Government subsidies to new wind farms have only made the industry less focused on reducing cost. In turn, the industry produces a product that isn't as efficient or cheap as it might be if we focused less on working the political system and more on research and development."

School officials say it broke down two years ago. After some initial repairs, the turbine completely halted operation about 18 months ago. "When you look at big picture, it's cost us more than it's earned us."

The company continues working with county officials and landowners and has secured development and interconnection rights for the wind farm sites, MidAmerican officials said. Construction is expected to begin in September 2013, and all projects are planned for completion prior to the end of 2015.

Bill Haman is from the Iowa Energy Center, an organization that provides information and tools for energy consumers. He said his office has heard from many consumers with the same problem. "There are cases out there where nothing was delivered, but substantial, sometimes over a $100,000 of down payment were made up front," said Haman.

These are unstable times for wind energy plants. Acciona in West Branch is laying off 40 workers, just months after White House officials had visited the plant to push for wind energy tax credits. Even though the credit has been extended a year, there's still uncertainty in the workforce.

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